Proportional mixing means



May 9, 1950 H. WRIGHT ET AL, 2,57,29l

PROPORTIONAL MIXING MEANS Filed March 27, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l OOO OOO

.May 9, 1950 H. WRIGHT ET AL. 2,507,291

PROPORTIONAL MIXNG MEANS Filed March 27, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMay 9, 1950 PROPORTIONAL MIXING MEANS Harold Wright, De Kalb, andCharles E. Blackman, Waterman, Ill., assignors to De Kalb AgriculturalAssociation, nc., De Kalb, lll., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationMarch 27, 1947, Serial No. 737,640

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for mixingmaterials. It has for one object to apply material to grain. Thismaterial may be a fungicide or any other material which it is desired toadd to grain. An object is to provide means for mixing a dry ingredientwith dry grain in measured proportions.

Another object is to provide a mechanism which will automatically mixand proportion grain and fungicide.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specificationand claims.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a plan View of one form of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away and parts insection;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on v`an enlarged scaleat line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken at line 4 5-4 of Figure 3 on afurther enlarged scale; and

Figure 5 is a section taken at line 5-5 of Figure 2 on an enlargedscale.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specificationand the drawings.

In the form shown, the invention comprises a rotary mixing member orassembly and two hoppers through which two types of material may befurnished for mixing. It also includes a conveyor for carrying materialfrom one hopper and .for introducing it into the rotary member orassembly.

The device may conveniently be supported on a foundation I and comprisesa xed outer drum or cylinder 2 which may be made in any manner. Asshown, it is made of a single sheet given a cylindrical shape, and it isprovided with members 3 which are secured together by bolts 4. At eachend the drum or cylinder 2 is provided with supporting and closingplates. At the receiving end a plate 5 is secured to the drum 2 in anydesired manner, and at the discharge end a plate 6 is similarly secured.

Mounted within the member 2 is a rotating cylinder 'l within which is adriving shaft 8. Spokes 3 connect the cylinder to the shaft. At itsouter end the shaft 8 passes through a discharge or outlet housing Iwhich is open at its 13 Claims. (Cl. 259-3) bottom, as at II. The shaftis carried in bearings I2Z I2 and carries a driving pulley I3. At theinlet end the cylinder I is carried on rollers I4, I4 which aresupported on pins or shafts I xed to the end wall 5. The cylinder 1 isthus carried at one end by the shaft 8 on the bearings I2 and at theother end on the rollers I4. The cylinder 'l may be driven in anymanner. As shown it is .v driven by a belt I 6 which is positioned aboutthe pulley I3 and is also positioned about a smaller pulley I'I which ismounted on a shaft I8 carried in bearings I9, I9. Power is applied tothe shaft I8 by the pulley 20. Within the cylinder 'I are xed severalhelically arranged conveying and mixing vanes 2|. They may beinterrupted, as at 22, if desired.

`Since the machine operates with dry ingredients, dust may be present ormay be generated and, if desired, a vent pipe 23 may be in communicationwith the housing I0 and suction may be applied to the pipe 23 toestablish an air current. The housing 2 is made dust-tight so that dustdoes not escape through it.

Generally the material which is to be treated is grain and a hopper 24is provided. It is conveniently carried upon a support 25 which may bexed to the end plate 5. The support, if desired, may be integral withthe hopper 24. A slidable shutter or valve 26 is provided with anopening 27 and is positioned beneath the hopper 24 and may be providedwith a handle portion 28 by means of which it may be moved back andforth to a position of adjustment suitable for the quantity of grain orother material which is passed through.

Beneath the hopper 24 is positioned a chute 29 which communicates withan opening 30 in the end wall 5. A ring-like member 3| may be positionedin the opening 30 to extend into the cylinder 'I. If desired, thecylinder 'I is provided with an end wall 32 through which the member 3Iextends.

The control valve 33 is mounted on a. shaft 34 and lies under theopening 2'I of the shutter or valve 26 and correspondingly under theopen bottom of the hopper 24. A counterweight 35 is adjustably mountedon an arm 36 which is fixed on the shaft 34 by means of a collar 31. Atits opposite end, particularly as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shaft 34carries a switch 38. This switch may conveniently be a mercury switch.Whatever its construction, it is opened and closed by variations in itsangular position as determined by movement of the shaitr34 under theinfluence of the grain falling upon the member 33. The-switch Stcontrols the operation of the feeding device which wili be describedbelow.

rhe means for feeding the second ingredient or material include a hopper3e which is provided with a discharge opening 40 in its bottom. Materialpassing through the opening 49 is deposited upon the'upper surface of aconveying member l, which may bepro'vided withL a flexible cover 42.rhemember l is carried upon a'plurality of springs which are xed to it,as at 44, and which at their opposite ends, as at 45, are xed upon abase member fit. An electro'rnagnet.el` carried on a suitable base teand an armature li is fixed adjacent the maget'fhsshowr'i, itisV carriedupon one of the springs @3fy 'Arheostat 5E) is in circuit with themagnet 41,' whichis also in circuit with the switch 38. A switch 5I isin circuit with the magnet i? and may be 'operated' to turn the currentoii and on. A handle. 512 is provided for the rheostat and by means fthe handle the rheostat may be adjusted to vary the amount of currentreaching the "magneti Automatic meansV are provided in the electricassemblyto cau'sea pulsating'currentso that the magnet isconstantlyenergized' and der-energized. When'it is energized it attractsther armature "i9 and moves the member iii tov the right from theposition shown Figure 2. `When` the mag--V net is cle-energizedthesprings B3 return 'the member fili to the position shown in Figure2.' Thus the pulsating baclvva'rdv and forward move: ment of the memberel is effective to vcarry ma'-v terial from theY hopper 39 forwardly tothe left. as shown in ligures 2 and 3, and to deposit the, materialinside ofthe cylinder i whereit 'is mixed' with the material enteringfrom the hopper 2lir through the Chute 2.9.- The quantity of materialfed alongl the conveying` 'of 'mberll is determined and may be variedbythe. setting off the"rheofV satan.'

Wires. connect the rheostat, the magnet, the switch 28 and the otherDarts Qfi the? lctrf4 assembly in circuit.l if desired, a hou 'ng 54may', bek provided for the, svviibchji- Whlai't. word/ik narily notnecessary'V in 'av dry system, heatingV means such as the heating bar'r'shown'in Fi 4 may be added, if desired'. 'v

The conveying memberwhich includesthe part el andthe electrical assemblyis not' the' object ofy the present invention; and :such conveying.'assemblies are available on the marl'et` today.

'Although we have shownAV an operative'form of our invention, it willberecognized that many changes in the form, vshape and arrangement offparts vcan be made without departing yfrom,"'the spirit of theinvention, and ourshowinfg isftherefore to be taken as, in a sense',diagrammatic.`

'The use "and operation of this inventionzare as follows:

With the device assembled asshown, one mate- Yrial is furnished tothehopper 2e andfanother to the hopper 39. The cylinder u'l i'sl'ro'tatd;the electric circuit is completed-to the magnet ALeXp-t for thepositionering switches:

As the material falls 'through the Vhopper 24, it comes upon the member3`3'and itsweight, tilts that member downwardly, thusmoving the switchBeto' a positionin which' the'circuitto the magnet il is completed;With'zthe ,circuittopthe' magnet thus completed, thecQnveyor/ i `isactu?M to. pcgetlvemehamcal meant for conveying. m eated and material isconveyed from the hopper 39 to the cylinder i. Thus so long as materialis fed through the hopper '2e and the switch 38 is held in the positionto complete the circuit, the two classes of material are fed inpredetermined proportions to the cylinder 1.

Thus so long as material is fed through the hopper 21% and the switch 38is held in the position to complete the circuit, the two classes ofmaterial are fed in predetermined proportions to the cylinder 5. In thatcylinder they are moved and mixed from the right to the l'eIty towardthe discharge end and are discharged into the housing It. The heaviermaterials fail outwardly through the opening H. Suction will generallybe'applied through the pipe 23 to establish the direction of air owthrough the device and to prevent any baci;v current or back iiowthrough the opening at the inlet and where the grain and otherrnaterialenter. The degree of suction may becontrolled by an adjustable butterflyvalve 23', it desired.

' Should theow of` material through the hopper a@ stop, thecounterweight 35 will carry the member 4Stilmithe position of Figure 3,and in that position the switch er will be moved to the position in4which it will break the circuit, and the magnet i will be de-energized-and the convey eiwill be stopped. The rheostat 53 may be, a justed tocontrol the operation of the conveyor filA 'and thus to controi'therelative quahtity'of;

40. Iit into said member, a gravity responsive memo, memberV''positioned"in )thefpath of. saidl"ma hopper, and a' switch mountedmaterial from the hopper 39 which is mixedwith the material from thehopperY 2,4. d' We claim: Y Y

l. In combination in a mixing and proportion@ ing apparatus, a combinedmixing and conveying member, and-means for movingF it, a main hoppen andmeans for conveying material from itirit said member, a secondaryhopper, and positive mechanical means for conveying material rfrom berpositioned inthe path of said'main hopper, and a member adapted to bemoved by.Ik f gravity responsivev means to stop the mechanical conveyor.A y

2. In combination in a mixing and proportion; ing apparatus, a combinedmixing and 'conveying' Cylinder" and' pearls?. f'rl 'rotating it. a mainhopper, and meansfo'r conveying material from it into said cylinder, aseeondary hopper and rial from it into said cylinder, a` gravityrfepnff, sive member positioned inthe path of s'aidmain hopper, andmember adapted to be inovedby said gravinevV responsive meansjte stepthem Clinical Colli/.eveil '3'. Incombination in a mixing andproport'ing apparatus, a combined afrmixing 'and ing" cylinder, and means forvrotating it," af,

.ry 'ebrea electricalfmeans'lfor convey ngfmaterial, from it,

into' said avancer, electric @ligue means for a ating saidelectricalmeans', a.v gravity 'respons te be.. ired Y" S'to bfeafl-ttfqtsaidffgravityv responsiveniean cuit) to Stop' the'electricalfconveyorg"` 4. In combination for use in mixing. anlfprof.,

portioningA apparatus having'afmainhopp r, nd,

ingandconveying member, asecondary hopper,`

and mechanical means ,for conveying mate Aal,` from it intosaid-member,a gravity responsive;

hopper, a combined mixing and conveying member, and means for moving it,a member adapted to be moved Iby said gravity responsive means to stopthe mechanical conveyor, and an airtight housing about said apparatus,and means i'or exhausting dust and air therefrom.

5. In combination for use in a mixing and proportioning apparatus havinga. main hopper, and means l'or conveying material i'rom it into saidcylinder, a secondary hopper and mechanical means for conveying materialirom it into said cylinder, a gravity responsive member positioned inthe path oi' said main hopper, a mixing and conveying cylinder, andmeans ior rotating it, a member adapted to be moved by said gravityresponsive means to stop the mechanical conveyor, and an airtighthousing about said apparatus, and means for exhausting dust and airtherefrom, said exhausting means establishing a current of air in thedirection in which material is moved by said conveying cylinder.

6. In combination in a mixing and proportioning means, a mixing andconveying cylinder, and means ior rotating it, members defining an inletopening to said cylinder, and a discharge opening therefrom, a main andan auxiliary hopper, and means ior conveying material from each of themto the interior of said cylinder, electrically operated conveying meansfrom said auxiliary hopper, and a member positioned in the path oi'material owing from said main hopper, a switch positioned to `beactuated by said member, and means adapted, when the material passingthrough said rst hopper falls below a predetermined minimum, to movesaid switch to break said circuit.

7. In combination in a mixing and proportioning means, a mixing andconveying cylinder, and means for rotating it, an airtight housingpositioned about said cylinder, members dening an inlet opening to saidcylinder, and a discharge opening therefrom, a main and an auxiliaryhopper, and means for conveying material from each of them to theinterior of said cylinder, electrically operated conveying means fromsaid auxiliary hopper, and a member positioned in the path of materialflowing from said main hopper, a switch positioned to be actuated bysaid member, said switch being in circuit with the means for operatingsaid electrically operated conveyor, and means adapted, when thematerial passing through said rst hopper falls below a predeterminedminimum, to move said switch to break said circuit.

8. In combination in a mixing and proportioning device, a cylinder,means for rotating it, means for conveying a plurality of materials tosaid cylinder in :predetermined proportions, one of said means includinga hopper, and gravity directing means `for directing material from saidhopper to said cylinder, and a second hopper, and a positive conveyingmeans for conveying material from said second hopper to said cylinder,and a valve member .positioned in the rpath of material moving from saidrst hopper to said cylinder, and means effective in response tovariation of flow of material through said first hopper to interrupt theoperation of said positive conveyor when flow of material through saidrst hopper falls below a predetermined quantity.

9. In combination in a mixing and proportioning device, a conveyingcylinder, means for rotating it, :an airtight housing about said cylndermeans for maintaining a current of air through said housing in thedirection oi move-fment of material conveyed by said cylinder, means iorconveying a plurality o1` materials to said cylinder, in predeterminedproportions, one oi said means including a hopper, and gravity directingmeans -or directing material from vsaid hopper to said cylinder, and asecond hopper, and a positive conveying means for conveying materialtt'rom said second hopper to said cylinder, and a valve memberpositioned in the path oi material moving i'rom said iirst hopper tosaid cylinder, and means eiective in response to variation 0I' flow ofmaterial through said rst hopper to interrupt the operation of saidpositive conveyor when iiow of material through said iirst hopper fallsbelow a predetermined quantity.

l0. In combination in a mixing and proportioning apparatus, a mixing andconveying member, and means for moving it, a main hopper, and means forconveying material from it into said member, a secondary hopper, andmechanical means for conveying material from it into said member, saidmechanical means comprising a vibratory part and means for vibratingsaid part, a gravity responsive member positioned in the path of saidmain hopper, a member adapted to be moved by said gravity responsivemeans and thus to stop the mechanical conveyor, and an airtight housingabout said apparatus, and means i'or exhausting dust therefrom, in thedirection of movement of material passing through said apparatus.

11. In combination in a. mixing and proportioning apparatus, a mixingand conveying member, and means dor moving it, a main hopper, and meansfor conveying material from it into said member, a secondary hopper, andmechanical means for conveying material from it into said member, saidmechanical means comprising a vibratory part and means for vibratingsaid part, a gravity responsive member positioned in the path of saidmain hopper, a member adapted to be moved by said gravity responsivemeans and thus to stop the mechanical conveyor, and an airtight housingabout said apparatus, and means for exhausting dust therefrom at avariable speed, in the direction of movement of material .passingthrough said apparatus.

12. In combination in .a mixing and pro-portioning apparatus, a mixingand conveying member, and .means for moving it, a main hopper, and meansfor conveying material from it into said member, a secondary hopper, andmechanical means for conveying material from it into said member, saidmechanical means comprising a vibratory part and means for vibratingsaid part, a gravity responsive member positioned in the path of saidmain hopper, a member adapted to be moved by said gravity responsivemeans and thus to stop the mechanical conveyor, and an airtight housingabout said apparatus, and means for exhausting dust therefrom in thedirection of movement of material passing through said apparatus, saidvibratory part positioned to Withdraw material from said secondaryhopper.

13. In combination in a mixing and proportioning apparatus, a mixing andconveying member, and means for moving it, a main hopper, and means forconveying material from it into said member, a secondary hopper, andmechanical means for conveying material from it into said member, saidmechanical means comprising a vibratory part and means for vibrating2mm-imei Said parir -a gravity `respnsive lmen/aberI` Y-positonedinthepath obsad-main-hoppenfa member. adapted to Jbe 1moved tby` said,.gravity mesponsve means and thus -to stop. the kmeclmnical conveyor,and an airtight housing Aabout 4said apparatus, Namel-meansfiorexhausting. dust there, frm at .3, variable speed .in .thel .directionyof movement of .material Ypassingthrough said .21,11-V

paratus, said Yvibraizory-part positioned to. withdrawfvmaterialnfromsaid second-ary hopper.

HAR-QLDWRIGHT. CHARLES E. BLACKMAN.

UNITEDSTMES PATENTS

